Keeper ring



May 11, 1937.

C, H. SCHNORR KEEPER RING Filed Dec. 29, 1934 INVEN'I'DR 011444 1 Jebou/Patented May 11,;1937

. Charles H. Sclmorr, New Remington, Pa., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Cornell Securities Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1934, Serial No.759,674

12 Claims.

My invention relates in general to receptacles or containers havingremovable covers, and relates particularly to a metal drum or barrel ofthe well-known type that includes a keeper ring for securing its coverin place. A keeper ring ordinarily comprises a metal annulus ofinterrupted continuity; the annulus is expansibleand contractible and atthe interruption in its continuity means are provided for adjusting itscircular extent. More specifically the invention is directed to a keeperring embodying in particularly effective organization an improvedringadjusting device. While myimprovements are applicable to keeperbands and locking rings in general, they are especially directed tokeeper rings for metal drums of the sort mentioned, and in such specificadaptation I shall describe them.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. I is a fragmentary view, showing inside elevation a metal drum equipped with a keeper ring embodying theinvention. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view, showing the rim of the drum incross section, and to larger scale. Fig. 111 is a view to still largerscale, showing the keeper ring in cross section, on

the plane III-III, Fig. V. Fig. IV is a sectional view of the keeperring, taken on the plane IV--IV of Fig. V, and showing one of twoparticular detents embodied in the ring structure; Fig. IV illustrateshow the detent serves in one capacity,

and Fig. IVa illustrates its use in an alternate capacity. Fig. V is afragmentary view of the ring in plan from below, as seen in Fig. I. AndFigs. VI to IX inclusive are diagrammatic views. severally comparablewith Fig. V, and illustrating the ring-adjusting device in successivestages. of

operation.

The reference numeral [indicates a steel drum or barrel of thetypecommonly used for the shipment of tar, oil, paint, and other bulkmaterials.

4 The drum is closed by a cover 2. A keeper ring 3, cooperating with theperiphery of the cover and the rim of the drum, serves 'to secure thecover in drum-closing position.

The rim-of the drum is provided with a bead l,

and the cover 2 comprises a peripheral flange 5 of arcuate crosssection. In service the body of the cover lies within the rim of thedrum; the flange 5 overlies the bead 4; and between such flange and beada gasket 6 (conveniently formed of hollow rubber tubing) is effectivehermetically to seal the drum when the cover is locked in place.

In this case the keeper ring 3 is hollow, and is open at its radiallyinward side. It is formed of sheet steel having an appreciable degree ofreslliency and substantial resistance to distortion.

In cross section the rim comprises twooutwardly converging portions 3a,and 3b, and an intermediate portion 30 (Fig. 11); the inner surface ofportion 3a engages the cover flange 5 from above, while the innersurface of portion 3b engages the bead 4 from below, and the divergenceof these two portions (3a,3b) is such that radial contraction of thering (that is, diminution in the circular extent of the ring) iseiIective to press,

efiect the tight seating of the cover, it maybe considered V-shaped incross section.

The keeper ring is parted, providing end portions 3d and 3e, as shown inFig. V. In accordance with my invention, I so organize two levers l and8 with these end portions that, by swinging the levers in oppositedirections of rotation, the ring readily and with great force may becontracted to cover-securing position upon the drum I, and, alternately,may be expanded for ready removal therefrom. On the lower side of thering (Fig. I)-, the level 'I is pivotally secured to the end portion 3dby means of a pin 9 and a link in is pivotally secured at its one end tothe end portion 3e by means of a pin ll (Fig. V). And the link it! ispivotally secured at its opposite end to the lever l by means of a pinl2. On

the upper side of the ring, the lever 8 is pivotaliy secured to the endportion 3e by means of a pin l3, and, in such manner as the link l0connects the end portion 3e 01 the ring with the lever 1, a link llpivotally connects the end portion 3d with the lever 8.

In plan the levers land 8 are shaped to the curvature of the keeperring, and, as indicated in Fig. V, they extend in opposite directionsfrom the parting in the ring. The levers, lying on opposite sides of thering, extend in parallelism, and in such relation they are swingabie inopposite directions of rotation.

As mentioned above, Fig. I showsthe keeper ring in fully assembled,cover-securing position; it is important to note (of. Fig. V) that insuch position the levers lie wholly within the breadth of the ring.Inasmuch as the levers thus lie within the radial extent of the ring,the drum I may be rolled in tilted position on its top rim, as well ason its bottom rim, in the well-known manner -in which barrels'are'usually rolled in moving them from place to place. Furthermore, the ringstructure does not interfere with stacking-a plurality of the drums maybe stacked end on end in the usual way for storage or shipment.

In removing the keeper ring from the drum, the distal ends of the leversl and 8 are first sprung from the embrace of two detents l5 presently tobe described; then the levers are swung outward, in opposite directionsof rotation (note arrows a) to the positions in which they are indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. V. During such swinging ofthe levers, the linksl0 and [4 are moved into the positions indicated at la and I 411.. Thenormal tendency of the links In and It is to pull the end portions 3dand 3c of the ring outward, in the directions of the arrows b, but, dueto the particular crossed relation of the levers and their organizationwith the ends of the ring; the end portions 311 and 39 actually moveapart in the directions of the arrows 0. Thus, the ends of the ring areforced apart, and the ring is expanded in the desired manner for removalfrom the drum.

In looking the cover upon the drum, the operation is reversed; that is,the cover 2 and gasket 6 being assembled upon the drum, the keeper ringis expanded and positioned adjacent the rim of the drum; then, byswinging the levers i and 8 from their dotted line positions (Fig. V)and into a position of alignment with the ring, the links l0 and M (incooperation with the levers) force the ends of the ring together. Thus,the ring is contracted, and the convergent side portions 30, 3b thereofare drawn radially inward over the cover flange 5 and drum bead 4,whereby the cover is pressed into tightly seated position.

In installing a keeper ring of the usual type, I have found that thering tends to rotate when appropriate force is applied to itsring-adjusting lever. This tendency of the ring to rotate makesinstallation diflicult.

It will be perceived that my twin-lever linkage acts upon the two ends3d and 36 of the ring with substantially equal and opposite forces,whereby there is no tendency for the ring to rotate while the levers arebeing operated to contract the ring.

It is further noteworthy that my twin-lever linkage operates withrelatively great mechanical advantage and that, in consequence, thelength of the levers 1 and 8 may be less than usual. It is generallyrecognized that in a given lever mechanism, the greater the mechanicaladvantage is, the less is the effective movement obtainable therefrom.age, when operated in the manner described, normally provides arelatively small range of ring adjustment. While it is to be understoodthat in some cases this small range of adjustment is adequate, in othercases (particularly in the case of metal drums that are two feet or morein diameter) it is desirable, if not essential, that the range begreater-sufficient to afford a variation in the effective circumferenceof the ring of from three to five inches.

To such end my linkage is adapted to efi'ect a so-called secondarydilation of the ring, and it will be understood that such adaptation isnot made at the expense of mechanical efllciency, or by sacrificing thehigh leverage coeflicient of the linkage. Turning to Figs. VI to IX thisfeature will be considered in detail.

In Fig. VI the levers I and 8 are shown each at the outer limit of itsoutward swing, and the end portions 3d and 3e of the ring are shownspread a: wide as they normally can be, by effecting such movement ofthe levers. However, the proportions and organization of the members I,8, l0, M are such that further spreading may be effected by axiallyshifting the outwardly swung It follows, therefore, that my linkleverstoward the point of their crossing, that is, in the directions indicatedby the arrows d. Such axial movement of the levers forces the endportions 3d and 3e of the ring further apart, with the consequence andeiIect that the links Ill, it

are swung "over center into the positions indicated in Fig. VII.Thereupon, by swinging the levers inward (see the arrows e), the endportions of the ring may be moved still further apart. When, during suchmovement, the levers (1,8) and links (l0, l4) reach positions ofalignment (Fig. VIII indicates the members approaching alignment) thedilation of the ring is maximum. Thus, extraordinary variation in thecompass of the ring may be obtained.

In passing it may be remarked that the members l and I0 secured to theunder side of the ring are shown in full lines, while, for the sake ofready distinction, the members 8 and It on the upper side of the ringare indicated in dotted lines in the diagrammatic figures of thedrawing.

In securing a cover upon a drum, the operation is reversed; the ring isfirst fully dilated in the manner described immediately above, and thenit is positioned over or around the rim of the drum. The levers I and 8are swung outward, and, upon reaching the positions in which they areshown in Fig. VII, the elasticity or resiliency of the distended ring,in tending to restore the ring to its normal shape, efiects the movementof the end portions 3d and 36 toward one another, whereby the links l0,I4 swing under center into the positions in which they are shown in Fig.VI. The body of the ring enters engagement with the cover flange 5 anddrum bead 4, but such engagement is initially light, and the ends of thering stand apart approximately the interval indicated in Fig, IX. Thelevers are then pressed inward, urging the ends of the ring togetherwith great force, whereby the ringis contracted in the manner alreadydescribed for tightly seating ,the cover 2 in drum-sealing assembly.

An indicated by the reference numerals 30 and 3| in Fig. III, theinclined side wall portions 3a and 3b of the keeper ring are embossed inthe When the ring is contracted into cover-securing positions, thedistal ends of the levers I and 8 are each secured in a detent l5. Eachdetent comprises a U-shaped strip of resilient steel, as shown in Fig.IV; one leg of the U is of prolonged extent, and is secured upon theouter surface of the ring, say by spot-welding; and the opposite leg ofthe U includes at its upper end a latch element I50. In service, as eachlever is swung into ring-closing position, its distal end portion ispressed inward; past the latch element lid, and into position betweenthe legs of the detent. The resilient outer leg of the U yields, toadmit of such passage of the lever, and once the lever-is lodged in theembrace of the detent, an intentional exertion of force is required toremove it. In further refinement of the structure, I provide an orificeIS!) in the bottom of each detent, and an orifice iii in the end of eachlever, whereby a wire I! may be passed through the end of the lever andits associated detent. The wire is looped, and is closed by means of alead disk I8 (Fig. V), thereby providing a tamper-proof seal ofwell-known type. Manifestly, any tampering with the levers l and 8, toeffect an unauthorized entrance to the container I, may be detected. Ofcourse, the sealing devices l1, I8 may be readily broken, to permit thedrum to be opened by an authorized person, and obviously there is nodamage to the keeper ring other than ordinary wear and tear.Accordingly, the keeper ring may be used in servicemany times over.

In practice it is sometimes desirable that the keeper ring shall be usedonly once, and that thereafter it shall be incapable of use. In suchcase the outer leg of each detent I5 is peened or hammered into theposition shown in Fig. 'IVa, whereby the lever is secured in lockedembrace. While the metal, of which the detent is formed, is oisufiicient resiliency to admit of the practice indicated in Fig. IV,such metal is sufliciently ductile to permit the detent to be hammeredinto the lever-locking position illustrated in Fig. IVa.

It is further to be remarked that the metal is of a semifrangiblenature, so that, once the detent has been peened into lever-lockingposition, any attempt to pry it open will produce a fracture, breakingaway the outer leg of the U and permanently destroying the detent. Thus,the detent is serviceable in either of two capacities, to

. meet alternate conditions in the field.

. interruptedv continuity, said keeper ring being of V-shaped crosssection and adapted to engage said cover flange from above and said beadfrom below, the combination of means organized with the ends of the ringprovided by the interruption in itscontinuity, said means comprising acooperating pair of levers severally swingable in opposite directionsfor adjusting said ring and thereby, by the action of said ring on saidcover flange and said bead, securing said cover in position in theopening of said container body, said levers being connected to said ringends and extending outwardlyin opposite directions from the region ofthe interruption.

2. A keeper for securing a cover upon a metal drum, said keepercomprising a metal ring of interrupted continuity, and ring-expandingand contracting means organized with the ends of the ring provided bythe interruption in its continuity, said means including two leversseverally connected to said ends of the ring and extending outward inopposite directions from the region of said interruption, and said twolevers being swingable in opposite directions for efiecting relativemovement of said ends of the ring.

3. A keeper for securing a cover upon a metal drum, said keepercomprising a metal ring of interi'upted continuity, and ring-expanding.and

contracting means organized with the ends of the ring provided by theinterruption in its continuity, said means including two levers arrangedin crossed relation and severally connected to said ,means for varyingthe compass of the ring, -said means including two levers pivotallyconnected to the ring, one on each side of the parting therein, andextending in opposite directions outward from such parting, and meanscooperating with said levers, whereby said variation in the. compass ofthe ring may be effected by swinging said levers in opposite directionsof rotation.

5. A parted ring of variable compass, and means for powerfully varyingthe compass of the ring, said means comprising two levers severallycrossing the parting in the ring and severally connected to the ring onopposite sides of the parting, a link pivotally connected to each leverat a point removed from the point of connection of the lever to thering, and the link associated with each lever being connected to thering on the side of the parting opposite to that at which the lever isconnected, whereby, by swingingsaid levers in opposite directions ofrotation, said levers and links cooperate in effecting said variation inthe compass of the ring.

6. The structure of claim 5, in which said links comprise over centerelements operable in effecting relatively great variation in the compassoi the ring, as described.

'7. The structure oi claim 5, in which one lever I and its link aresecured to one-side of the ring,

and the other lever-and link are secured to the opposite side of thering, and, when said ring is adjusted to minimum compass, said links andlevers extending in substantial alignment with thecircular extent ofthering.

8. A keeper ring for the cover of a steel drum,

' said keeper ring being of interrupted continuity and including twolevers swingable outwardly of the ring in opposite directions forvarying the compass of the ring, and two detents secured to the ring onopposite sides of theinterruption in its continuity for severallystaying said levers in positions against the opposite sides of the ring,said detents and levers including orifices for the passage of sealingmeans, as described.

9. In a clamping device for a metallic receptacle having a bead formedabout its open end and a cover having a flange fitting over the bead, acontractible channeled clamping ring to a means for varying the compassof the ring, said means including two levers pivotally connected to thering, one on each side of the parting therei in, and extending inopposite directions outward from such parting, and means cooperatingwith said levers, whereby said variation in the compass of the ring maybe effected by swinging said levers in opposite directions of rotation,one of said levers operating above the plane of said ring and the otherof said levers operating below the said plane.

11. In a clamping ring for a container having a bead formed about itsopen'end, a cover having a flange fitting over the bead, and a packingbetween the bead and the flange, a split contractible channelledclamping ring having portions engaging the bead and cover flange topress the same together when the ring is contracted, and means forcontracting the ring including a pair of levers pivotally connected tothe ring, one at each side of the split therein,and extending inopposite directions away from the ring-walls,

and means cooperating with said levers whereby 10 means for contractingthe ring including a pair of levers pivotally connected to the ring, oneat each side of the split therein, and extending in opposite directionsaway from the ring walls, and means cooperating with said levers wherebythe ring may be contracted when the levers are swung in oppositedirections of rotation, one of said levers operating above the plane ofthe ring and one below the said plane.

CHARLES H. SCI-INORR.

